Social Media Effects for Teen Depression

(TBO-II Trial)

Overseen By Sarah E Nelson, B.S.

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Must not be taking: CNS medications

Disqualifiers: Neurological, Medical, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to better understand how social media affects teen depression by using brain imaging and eye-tracking technology. Researchers are developing a new task that mimics real social media environments to observe how teens' brains respond to social feedback, such as likes and comments, known as Rejection and Acceptance Feedback. Teens aged 13-17 with mild to severe depressive symptoms, who use social media at least three times a week, are suitable candidates for this study. Participants will engage in various activities, including an MRI scan and daily surveys, to assess how social media influences their emotions and mental health. As an unphased trial, this study offers teens a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research on mental health and social media.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

You can continue taking your current antidepressants if you are on a stable dose. However, if you are taking stimulants, you will need to stop them 36 hours before the MRI scan.

What prior data suggests that the TeenBrainOnline (TBO) Task is safe for teens?

Research has shown that the treatment using rejection and acceptance feedback is still under study, so specific safety information for this exact treatment isn't widely available yet. However, the trial's "Not Applicable" phase indicates that the focus is on observing how teens react to different feedback during tasks. This suggests a very low risk, as participants do not receive drugs or undergo invasive procedures.

Similar studies on social feedback and mental health have reported no major harm or negative effects. The focus remains on understanding how the brain responds to feedback rather than altering it. This makes participation generally safe, especially since the trial employs standard methods like questionnaires and MRI scans, which are common in research and well-tolerated.

Overall, while direct safety data for this specific treatment is lacking, the study's nature and similar research suggest it is safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the treatments in the Social Media Effects for Teen Depression trial because they explore how online feedback can impact mental health. Unlike traditional treatments like therapy and medication that focus on altering brain chemistry or thought patterns, this approach examines behavioral and emotional responses to social media interactions. By studying the effects of rejection and acceptance feedback, researchers hope to uncover new insights into how digital interactions influence teen depression, potentially leading to innovative strategies for managing symptoms in a tech-driven world.

What evidence suggests that the TeenBrainOnline Task is effective for understanding teen depression?

Research has shown that feeling rejected can be linked to depression in teens. One study found that increased activity in the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) during rejection correlated with fewer depression symptoms over time. This suggests that understanding the brain's response to social situations, like acceptance or rejection, might help explain or predict changes in depression. This trial will study the effects of rejection and acceptance feedback in adolescents with mild to severe depressive symptoms. Another study found that therapies focusing on acceptance significantly reduced depression in adolescents. These findings highlight the potential importance of social feedback in shaping emotional health, especially in young people. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jennifer S Silk, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Helmet T Karim, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for teens aged 13-17 with symptoms of depression. They must be willing to undergo an MRI scan, interact on a study-specific social media site, and complete daily surveys about their online experiences and emotions.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 13 and 17 years old.

Depression screening scores on the MFQ-C in the mild (MFQ = 12-25; N = 20) or moderate-to-severe range (MFQ ≥25; N=30)

I own a smartphone to do health surveys online.

Exclusion Criteria

My child has a serious neurological or medical condition.

I cannot complete assessments due to language barriers or cognitive issues.

Presence of probable substance use disorder, as determined by participant report

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

1 visit (virtual)

Preparation

Participants complete a virtual study visit to complete questionnaires and prepare for the MRI visit

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Intervention

Participants complete the TBO and CHAT-I tasks during fMRI/eye-tracking at the BRIDGE MRI Center

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Daily Surveys

Participants complete smartphone surveys 3 times a day for 16 days about their daily experiences online and emotional reactions

16 days

Follow-up

Participants complete online questionnaires asynchronously 3 months after their scan date to assess depressive symptoms

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Rejection and Acceptance Feedback

Trial Overview The TeenBrainOnline Task aims to understand how social media affects teen brains by using fMRI and eyetracking. It compares brain activity during simulated social media interactions with real-world SM use patterns and depressive symptoms.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Adolescents aged 13-17 with at least mild symptoms of depression Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Adolescents in Phase 2 will be screened for depressive symptoms using the MFQ-c. 20 teens will have MFQ-c scores within the mild range (MFQ = 12-25). The sample will be stratified, with 30 teens who will have moderate to severe depressive symptoms as assessed by the MFQ-C. (MFQ ≥25; N=30)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10812680/

The Relationship of Rejection Sensitivity to Depressive ... Results showed that (a) RS was positively related to depressive symptoms and negatively related to adolescents' perceptions of their relationships, (b) ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3551284/

What Teens Want: Barriers to Seeking Care for Depression This study examined the experiences of teenagers seeking and receiving care for depression from primary care providers.

3. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002%2Fda.22120

THE ROLE OF PEER REJECTION IN ADOLESCENT ... Other experimental studies have found no evidence that rejection elicits more negative mood in adolescents at-risk of depression compared to ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301051123001357

Neural activation to peer acceptance and rejection in ... Greater rTPJ response to rejection was associated with fewer depressive symptoms at 12-months and mediated the association between High Risk group status and 12 ...

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1506822/full

Effect of acceptance and commitment therapy for ... Results: A meta-analysis of 25 studies with 2,352 participants showed that ACT significantly reduced depressive symptoms in adolescents.

6. cdc.gov cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/su/su7304a9.htm

Mental Health and Suicide Risk Among High School .. ... 39.7% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, 28.5% experienced poor mental health, 20.4% seriously considered attempting ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1083318824002225

A Narrative Review of Depression and Suicide in ... Results from the 2021 NSDUH found 3.3 million (12.7%) of adolescents aged 12- to 17-years-old had serious thoughts of suicide, 1.5 million (5.9%) made a suicide ...

8. uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/screening-depression-suicide-risk-children-adolescents

Depression and Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents ... The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient on the benefit and harms of screening for suicide risk in children and adolescents owing ...

9. publications.aap.org publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/153/1/e2023064800/196189/Suicide-and-Suicide-Risk-in-Adolescents

Suicide and Suicide Risk in Adolescents | Pediatrics Most youth with SI, plans, or suicide attempts have preexisting mental health disorder(s),8 with depression having the strongest association.